Lucknow, September 28, 2026: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has drawn attention over remarks he made while speaking at the launch of the Bharat Taxi service in Lucknow on September 23.

During the programme, Pathak spoke about self-employment and encouraged people to earn through their own vehicles instead of depending only on conventional jobs.

A clip from his speech later circulated widely on social media, triggering political reactions and debate over employment opportunities for young people.

What Did Brajesh Pathak Say?

During his address, Pathak encouraged people to consider driving their own vehicle as a source of income.

His remarks were made in the context of the newly launched Bharat Taxi platform, which is designed around a driver-owner model.

According to reports, Pathak suggested that people could use an e-rickshaw or taxi to earn independently and retain their earnings within their own households.

A portion of the speech was later shared online with the phrase “Don’t get caught up in the job chase, drive your own rickshaw”, drawing widespread attention.

Remark Sparks Political Reactions

After the video began circulating online, opposition leaders criticised the Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks and linked them to the broader debate around jobs and unemployment.

Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj was among those who publicly reacted to the statement.

However, the wider context of Pathak’s speech was focused on encouraging self-employment through Bharat Taxi rather than making a formal policy statement on government jobs.

What Is Bharat Taxi?

Bharat Taxi is a cooperative-based mobility platform that aims to give drivers a greater role in ownership and earnings.

The service was formally launched in Uttar Pradesh on September 23, 2026, in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and other senior officials.

Along with Lucknow, the service was also launched in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.

Pathak Urged People to Support Bharat Taxi

At the launch event, Pathak described Bharat Taxi as an initiative where individuals can use their own vehicles, drive themselves and keep a greater share of their earnings within their families and local economy.

He also urged people to help make Bharat Taxi successful and act as its brand ambassadors.

Thousands of Drivers Registered

According to Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, around 40,000 drivers in Uttar Pradesh had registered with Bharat Taxi at the time of the launch.

He said the platform was part of efforts to expand the cooperative model into the mobility sector and create additional earning opportunities for drivers.

Why Is the Statement Being Discussed?

The controversy largely centres on how Pathak’s comments are being interpreted.

Critics have presented the remark as an example of the government advising young people to choose driving work instead of seeking jobs.

The speech itself, however, was delivered during an event promoting a driver-owned taxi platform, where the Deputy Chief Minister was speaking specifically about self-employment and independent earnings.

The viral clip has therefore become part of a larger political discussion around employment, entrepreneurship and job opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Highlights

• Brajesh Pathak made the remarks in Lucknow on September 23.
• The occasion was the launch of Bharat Taxi in Uttar Pradesh.
• His speech focused on self-employment through personally owned vehicles.
• A video clip of the remarks later went viral.
• Opposition leaders criticised the statement.
• Bharat Taxi was launched in Lucknow and four other UP cities.
• Around 40,000 drivers in Uttar Pradesh had registered with the platform at the time of launch.